Chapter 21: Friend’s Inquiry (2/2)

That smile she showed the previous day was no longer to be seen. Her usual expression would have him doubting if the events of the previous day actually transpired.

This should be the norm, or rather, Amane hoped she would be like this. If she was to show the same expression she did the previous day, he would feel a heartache.

“No, well, Itsuki and the others were gossiping about the present.”

Because I went to discuss this with them, so he quipped, and sighed. It seemed Mahiru had remembered Itsuki’s name, “Ahh, I see.” and she too sighed.

“Well, those did not look like things you would buy, Fujimiya-san.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

They already felt it was impossible for Amane to give a female a present, and that was why they wondered if he was in love.

In fact, neither of them had the sweet, sour, or bitter feelings that came with falling in love.

“Just my own issues. Goodness, what were they guessing?”

It was true that Mahiru was cute, and he had the desire to touch her. He could not deny that.

But he felt every youth would feel this way, and after all, his heart merely jolted a few times when he once again realized Mahiru was a real pretty girl. There was no way it was love.

Even if he did like her character, he did not think of the extraordinary, to form such a relationship with her.

He glanced aside, and saw her usual pretty face.

However, his heart did not palpitate as it did the previous night. Once again, he affirmed that he had not fallen for Mahiru, and sighed.

One had to wonder what she would say if she noticed him watching her, so he turned his eyes towards the phone, only to see an unread number on a chat app icon.

It’s probably Itsuki, so he thought as he opened the app, but the name on the new message was beyond expectation.

Once he saw the name Shihoko, he frowned.

Amane had only three female contacts in total.

To be precise, they were Chitose, Mahiru, and…his mother.

What now? So he thought as he opened her chat. It contained the agitated text he really was bad at dealing with, things like how his exams went, if he had any difficulty in life, and so on.

The reason why he was bad at dealing with Chitose was because there was someone like Chitose…or rather, an older Chitose in his family. Amane did not hate her, and could not bring himself to, but his own mother’s personality was too much for him.

“Your grandpa sent fruits, so I’m sending some to you. Will be delivering on Saturday. Do stay at home in the afternoon! I’m not going to forgive you if you refuse or aren’t at home, you know?”

“You just decided on my schedule like that…?”

He had no real plans for Saturday, and was fine staying at home, but should she not contact him earlier?

“What is the matter?”

Mahiru might have heard the mutter as she looked towards him with her usual expression.

“Mom’s delivering fruits she received from grandpa. Probably apples.”

“Do you know how to peel them?”

“…With a peeler, maybe?”

“You may…but it is a waste of nutrients to peel off the skin.”

My mom says the same thing, so he thought, but he swallowed that notion.

“I’ll just eat with the skin then.”

“That is barbaric of you.”

“I’m lazy, you know.”

“That is lazy of you.”

He could only show a wry smile at her usual blunt honesty, and shrugged away.

While Mahiru looked stupefied, “Well, it will end up in the stomach after all.” but she somewhat relented.

“Oh yeah. I don’t know if I can finish them all before they rot. You want some, Shiina?”

“I shall have some then. Fruits are expensive after all.”

Her words might seem a dampener, but these words were truly befitting her.

“Saturday, is it? I shall prepare lunch as thanks.”

“I’m the one who’s always being taken care of.”

“It is fine. I do not dislike cooking for you, Fujimiya-san.”

She made a sincere little smile, giggling.

Amane averted his eyes awkwardly as her smile reminded him of what happened the previous day, “…I’ll leave it to you then.” so he tersely responded.